ACCENTS: IFFSM: Appalled and enraged

BY JULIA CARREON-LAGOC

SEPTEMBER 14 as I write this is short of a day in the six-month anniversary of the unsolved murder of Romeo Capalla, manager of the Panay Fair Trade Center.

Capalla was gunned down March 15, 2014 in front of the Oton Public Market. In the whole of six months, the cabal remains scot-free to roam in the whole of Panay Island.

That said, I yield my space to Sine Panayanon’s Facebook page: IFFSM: Appalled and Enraged spread out with photos and vivid narrations by IAm Geob and Nona Prieto. The IFFSM (International Fact Finding and Solidarity Mission) held protest actions in Iloilo City, August 16, 2014. Read on:

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“In Italy, if somebody is murdered, the first to issue a statement condemning such brutal act is the head of the city. Our local leader will even hang a streamer to show outrage against the killing. But here in Oton, we wonder why the Mayor would not allow a streamer to be hung?” expressed Beatrice de Blasi, an Italian photographer who took part in the International Fact Finding and Solidarity Mission (IFFSM).

Said IFFSM, conducted last August 13 to 15, was participated by eight foreign fair trade workers and local participants coming from various fair trade organizations worldwide. It seeks to gather more information on the killing of fair trade activists Romeo Capalla and Dionisio Garete, as well as on the burning of the muscovado mill in Janiuay, Iloilo. Capalla was gunned down last March 15, 2014 and minutes later, the muscovado mill was set ablaze. Garete was ambushed by armed men last May 28.

As a local media covering the IFFSM, I observed the laborious process of data gathering. It is because, the participants aim to get the details of the three incidents which shook the international fair trade movement.

The IFFSM talked to Mayor Vincent Flores of Oton, Mayor Frankie Locsin of Janiuay and Governor Arthur Defensor of the Province of Iloilo. They also conversed with the members of Katilingban Sang Mangunguma sa Dabong KAMADA) and Janiuay-Badiangan Farmers Association (JABAFA), a local organization of farmers, sugarcane planters, and sugar mill workers based in Janiuay.

Outrage and anger engulfed the hearts of IFFSM participants. The documentation made by the IFFSM from the stories shared by those interviewed revealed the deliberate neglect of proper authorities to pursue the case against the criminal acts allegedly perpetrated by the RPA-ABB.

Kim Sumin, spokesperson of iCOOP Korea, said that they were really shocked when they heard of Romeo’s assassination. “It was just like yesterday we were together there in Iloilo helping the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. We extended assistance thru the Panay Fair Trade Center (PFTC) and Romeo was so thankful that donations poured in for the typhoon victims,” recalled Kim.

“What kind of government do the Filipino people have? This Aquino government is so heartless to people like Romeo who dedicated his life in helping poor farmers through organic farming. This government did not even bother to initiate appropriate legal steps to pin down the real assailants. A murder case involving fair trade activist is not trivial!” added Kim.

“The neglect of the Philippine government over this case is very, very disheartening. Impunity must be put to an end. The autonomous government of Bolzano, Italy and Germany have been among the many nations extending financial help to the Philippines. We might be compelled to launch a campaign back in our own country to stop giving aid to the Philippine Government. The PFTC was constructed with the help of Bolzano, Italy,” said Rudi Dalvai, Global President of the World Fair Trade Organization with 75 member-nations.

“We will continue sending protest letters to the Philippine government, even if it would flood the inboxes of various government agencies to that effect,” said one Korean IFFSM participant.

I witnessed the unity of the IFFSM participants. They come from various countries but they stood as one in calling to end impunity. They were deeply appalled of the insensitivity of the government and local authorities despite the presence of glaring evidences that would lead to the real perpetrators.

The IFFSM strongly condemned the continuing harassment of the workers of PFTC and the muscovado mill in various municipalities in Iloilo. Nevertheless, they still gave their commitment to support PFTC in marketing its organic products abroad, like the organic muscovado, banana chips, and ginger chew.

PFTC was able to give livelihood to its 10,000 beneficiaries. And yet, justice remain elusive to Capalla and Garete.

“The Aquino government doesn’t really care much on how PFTC helped the people in the locality. The killing of Caplla and Garete doesn’t bother the government at all. We must do something to bring justice to our fellow fair trade workers,” lamented Kim Hyungmi.

“The assailants succeeded in killing Romeo and Dionisio. We heard that 12 of us are still being targeted to be killed. This is very alarming for us. But we must not let fear creep into our hearts and turn our back against PFTC,” said Mario Dalida, PFTC production head.

“We commit ourselves to continue the operation of PFTC. The legacy left by Bossing Romeo will never be in vain. We will let the fair trade movement spread like fire in the island of Panay. We will move forward, more courageous, more resolved,” quipped Dalida.

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Together with Sine Panayanon and PFTC officers and members, we will never cease to demand justice for Romeo Capalla, Dionisio Garete, and all other victims of injustice. We live in a democracy, don’t we? Impunity has no place in a democratic society. (juliaclagoc@yahoo.com)/PN